The 8 Limbs of Yoga: A Guide to Living with Intention
Yoga is thousands of years old, with its roots in the Vedas — ancient Hindu scriptures dating back 4,000–5,000 years. Vedic wisdom was passed down through oral teachings until the sage Patanjali gathered them in a text called The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Within this text, Patanjali outlined what we now call the Eight Limbs of Yoga — an eightfold path known as ashtanga(literally “8 limbs”). These steps act as guiding principles for life both on + off the mat, showing us how to live with more intention, purpose + awareness.
I like to think of them as a roadmap to becoming my highest vibrational self — so I can show up in service to the world.
The 8 Limbs of Yoga
1. Yamas
Think of the Yamas as a guidebook for how to be a good human being. They are outward practices that shape the way we interact with the world:
Ahimsa (non-violence): not just physical, but also in the way we speak, think + treat ourselves.
Satya (truthfulness): living, speaking + acting in alignment with your truth.
Asteya (non-stealing): respecting time + energy, your own and others’.
Brahmacharya (protection of energy): preserving energy by being mindful of where you invest it.
Aparigraha (non-attachment): releasing the urge to cling, hoard or resist life’s flow.
2. yamas
The Niyamas are more inward practices — a guidebook for personal behaviour and self-discipline:
Saucha (cleanliness + purity): caring for body, mind + environment.
Santosha (contentment): cultivating gratitude + presence in the now.
Tapas (discipline + determination): showing up with commitment + consistency.
Svadhyaya (self-study): reflecting, learning + growing through awareness.
Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender): trusting in a higher power, however you define it.2. Niyamas
3. Asana
This is the one most people know! Asana means posture. It’s our physical yoga practice on the mat, designed to prepare the body for stillness. While many think yoga is asana, it’s actually just one part of the wider practice — 1/8th of the journey.
4. Pranayama
Prana means breath or life force + Yama means control. Pranayama is the practice of controlling + working with the breath to influence energy, clarity + balance.
5. Pratyahara
The withdrawal of the senses — stepping back from constant external stimulation to turn inward + reconnect with yourself.
6. Dharana
Concentration. Often the first stage of meditation, this is the practice of focusing the mind. A busy, restless mind is often a reflection of our busy world — Dharana helps us begin to still it.
7. Dhyana
Meditation. This is the deeper state that unfolds when concentration flows into steady awareness.
8. Samadhi
The experience of enlightenment, bliss + peace. It’s a state of complete union — with self, life + the divine.
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The Eight Limbs of Yoga are an invitation to live with greater awareness, presence + purpose — both on + off the mat.
If you’d love to explore how to weave yoga philosophy into your everyday life, join me inside the Inspired Club: